Printing member



Nov. 15, 1927. 1,649,539

P. P. MERRILL PRINTING MEMBER 30 l n J0 6 Nov. 15, 1927. 1,649,539 P. P. MERRILL PRINTING MEMBER Filed July .'5. 1924 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 15,1927. 1,649,539

P. P. MERRILL Filed July 5. 1924 Q -Sheetsfheat 5 A ZZ ,j

Patented Nov. 15, 1927.

UNITED srArEs PATENT OFFICE.

IHILIP P. MERRILL, OF EVANSTON, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO LUDLOW TYPOGRAIPH COMPANY. OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORIPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

PRINTING MEMBER.

Application led July 3, 1924. Serial No. 723,982.

`My invention in its broadest aspect relates to printing-linee-equipped bodies in general, but more particularly to so'called linecast slugs each comprising a shank 4portion which, in accordance with common practice, is cast in a mold provided as one member, and a head-portion, either continuous or interrupted, and presenting a printing-face portion or portions comprising such printing characters as letters, numerals and ruleform elements, and, according to common practice, cast integral with the shank portion and into matrices provided as members separate from the shank-mold member and positioned in alignment with each other at the open side of the` mold cavity of the shank-mold member.

My invention further relates to the aligning, either crosswise or lengthwise of the 2o printing-faceequipped bodies, of the printing faces of suoli bodies when grouped together to present the printing form; and more especially, to the alignment of such faces in a direction crosswise of suoli bodies, as, for example, in the case of printing bodies for printing blank forms and oliice and factory forms comprising parallel rule lines extending in one direction only, or intersecting parallel rule lines, and in the case of tabular work comprising lines, or columns, of single letters, words or numerals, in all of which cases the accurate alignment of the printing faces `of adjacent printing bodies is necessary to produce high grade 33 work. v

One of my ob'iects is to provide novel means whereby, without requiring skill or a painstaking operation and regardless of nonalignnicnt of the head-portions of the slugs relative to the shank portions thereof in the case more particularly of line-cast slugs, the alignment of the printing faces on `adjacent printing bodies grouped together to produce a printing form, will be ensured.

A I have chosen to illustrate my invention as applied to line-cast slugs for the composing of forms from which blanks having intersecting rule lines are to be printed, but without intending to limit my invention thereto.

vReferring to the accompanying drawings, in which I have shown my improvements in connection with line-cast slugs:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a mold member in which the shank portion of the line-cast slug is formed, and a matrix-composing stick containing a series of matrices in which the head-portion of the slug is cast, the shank and head-forming portions referred to being shown in separated condition. Figure 2 is al section taken through the assembled members of Fig. 1, these two views being somewhat (iliagrannnatic, with certain parts of the structure with which they are associated in common practice, omitted, sui'icient only of the structure being shown to illustrate the application of my invention. Figure 3 is a plan view of a plurality of slugs embodying my invention and provided for the producing of printed rule blanks composed of intersecting rulefaces, these slugs being shown in assembled relation with filler-slugs alternating therewith. Figure 4 is a perspective view of the grouped slugs shown in FiO. 3. Figure 5 is an end view of one of the printing-faceequipped slugs of Fig. 3 and the filler-slug adjacent one face thereof, with portions thereof shown in section, the section being taken at the line 5 on Fig. 3 and viewed in the direction of the arrow. Figure 6 is a perspective view of the sectional matrix from which the intersecting rule-faces of the slugs may be produced. Figure 7 is a face view of one of the sections forming the matrix. Figure 8 is a plan view of an insert-section forming another section of the matrix. Figure 9 is a perspective view of one of the two similar sections constituting the remainder of the matrix-sections. Fig-` ure 10 is a perspective view of another construction of matrix which maybe used in producing the intersecting rule-face portions of the slug. Fig. 11 is a similar view of the inserts forming parts of the matrix of Fig. 10, these inserts being shown in the spaced relation assumed by them when assembled with the main portion of the matrix. Figure 12 is a perspective view of another form of rule-face line-cast slug embodying my invention. Figure 13 is an end view of a plurality of the slugs of Fig; 12 grouped together in printing position with Fillerslugs alternating therewith. Figure 14: is a plan view of the grouped slugs of Fig. 13. Figure 15 is a perspective view of another form of ruleface line-cast rality of the slugs of Fig. 15 grouped to gether in printing position with iller-slugs alternating therewith. Figure 18 is a plan view of the grouped slugs of Fig. 17. Fig ure 19 is a perspective vieiv of still another form ot rule-face line-cast slug embodying my invention. Figure 20 is a broken per spective vieu7 of the slug ot Fig. 19. Fig-- ure 21 is an end vieiv of the slug of Fig. 19 and a iiller-slug grouped therewith g* and Figure 22. a plan view ot a plurality of the slugs of Fig. 19 arranged in printing position, with iillerslugs grouped therewith.

As a preface to the following description it may be stated, as machines are commonly provided for producing line-cast slugs, the shank-mold portion and the matrices are separate, the shank mold portion being pro vided on the machine and associated with means `for discharging into its mold cavity and into, and against, the matrices, molten metal to form the slug, and the matrices being grouped together in a matrix-composing stick adapted to be positioned on the machine to close the side of the shank-mold and present the mold cavities in the matrices to the metal introduced into the shank mold. Machines of this type being Well'knovvn in the art, detailed showing thereof is omitted, only such portions ot the machine as are necessary to any understanding of my invention being illustrated. Accordingly a shankmold member is illustrated somewhat diagrammatically, however, at` 23, the mold cavity` therein and in which the shank por# tion of the slug is cast, being shoivnat 211. This mold cavity opens through the upper surface of the member 23 and receives from the Amouth piece 25 of the Crucible (not shown) 'through the lower open end ot the mold cavity, the molten slug metal from which the shank and head ot the slug are to be formed. A matrixcomposing stick is represented at 9.6, the central opening 27 therein receivingV the matrices, represented at 28, shown as formed of the body portions 29, which extend into the opening 27, and the lugs 30 Which seat upon the upper surface ot the stick 26, the matrices 28, assembled with the stick 26, being held in place therein by a clamping. follower, block 31 cooperating With a clamping screw 32 having threaded engagement With an end portion o t the stick `9.6., the matrices 28 being provided with mold cavities ot a contour, or contours, as the case may be, tor producing the desired printing face on the line-cast slug to be produced.

The particular form of slug shown in Figs. 3, a and 5, at 33, and embodying my invention, is provided for producing blank ruled forms comprising intersecting rule lines, the rule faces on the slugs for printing the horizontal and vertical rule lines being represented at 34e and 35, respectively, these rule faces being provided on, and as a part of, the head portions 3G ot the slugs, the shank portions of which are represented at 37.

In accordance with my invention the linecast slugs are provided with means, prefer ably of an interlockingl character, 'for insuring such relative positioning ot the slugs in grouped relation, that accurate alignment of the printing-tacos thereon in a direction crosswise of the slugs will he insured. The particular illustrated form ot such means is of the lug and socket type, each linerast slug being provided with a. pair ot' lugs forming stop portions and represented at 38, these lugs extending from one iace oi the slug and spaced apart, and with a lug 39, forming a stop portion the upper surface oi which presents one section ot' the printing' tace by Which the vertical rule line is produced, the lugs 38 being located at opposite sides or', and exactly equidistantly from, the median line ot a lug i0 at the iace ot the slug opposite that having the lug Si), and the upper tace ot which presents the other section of the printingfface by which said vertical rule is produced. it being understood that the lugs 39 and 40 are in direct alignment wth each other. ln the particular construction shovrn the positioning means rc 'ferr-ed to are provided above the shank por tion of the slug on the head portion thereol", these parts being preferably formed hy casting the metal forming the head portion into matrices ot such contour as to produce the lugs referred to.

Referring now to the matrices tor touw ing the slug, the matrices `for 'forming the rule-taccs at the interi'ections thereo'may he of riny desired ttor-m, two iorms suitable t'or use and one involving my invention heing illustrated. The matrix ot Fi (i. T, 8 and i) .is formed ot tour plateserti ins il. 42, 13 and 14, the section 11 heng formed with a recess 15 in its upper surface and the section L12, which is in the nature ot an in" sert, fitting Within this recess and secured therein as by pinning it to the section l-l., as represented at 46. The insertsection 1&2 contains in its upper surface. a longitudinally extending groove t7 and o transverse, intersecting.` groove 4:8 so shaped, as shown, as to term the desired printing rule-tacos on that part of the slug Which is cast there from, the insert-section 42 extending at its top surface below the top surface ot the section 41 to 'Form a` cavity, partially bounded at its side-portions by the-sections si?) and 114 hereafter described, in which the aligning lugs 39 and 4Q are cast. The scctions d3 and 411i, ach ot' the same torni, con tain recesses fl?) formed With portions 5t) in their bases which, in the asr-:en'ibled condition oi" the sections oi" the matrix in which the sections 43 and 4:1 lativise oppose `the sec- 1 [lll lill) tions 41 at the opposite faces of the latter, align with the transverse groove 48 of the section 42 and by which, portions of the horizontal i'ule faces of the slug, are formed. The severalv sections of the matrix are so recessed that when they are assembled together, as shown in Fig. 3, the rece-sses 49 extend in staggered relation to the recess 45,

and, in the assembling of the matrix with the matrices as shown of the matrices in F ig. 1, bounded at another side by an adjacent matrix, are the parts of the matrix in which the lugs 38 are cast.

The matrix of Figs. 10, 11, and 12 diifers from the matrix of Figures 7 to 9 inclusive in that it is formed of three sections instead of four, these three sections being represented at 51, 52 and 53, the sections 52 and 53 being insert sections. The section 51 is formed with a recess 54 in its top surface extending throughout the length of this section and substantially of V-shape in crosssection with the walls of this recess, recessed as represented at 55, and presentingr substantially V-shaped groove-portions 56 in their bases extending crossivise of the groove-recess 54. The sections 52 and 53 are located in the ends of the groove 54 and the insert sections 52 and 53 are so proportioned and disposed,y as shown, as to forni a inold cavity of the saine shape, and for the same purpose, as in the case of the matrix of Figs. 7 to 9 inclusive.

The matrices for forming the remaining portions of the horizontal rule-faces of the slug would contain mold-cavities corresponding with the mold cavities of the sections 43 and 44 and the upper side walls of the section 51, except for those portions by which the lugs 38 are produced.

ln the composing of a printing foinifroin the line-cast slugs shown, the slugs are grouped together, or assembled, as represented in Figs. 3, 4 and 5 with plain filler slugs 33 interposed between adjacent ones of the slugs 33, in which position of the slugs the lugs 39 extend into, and closely fit, the sockets presented between the lugs 3S of adjacent slugs. As the lugs 38 and 39 ooccupy lthe positions on the slugs, relaive to the rule faces 35, as stated, thus positioning the slugs insures accurate alignment of these rule faces to produce perfectly straight, unbroken, Vrule faces in the printing forni, and it is thus immaterial, so far` as the aligning'of the rule faces 35 isy conce1-ned, whether or not the head portions of the slugs accurately align with the shank portions thereof. In effect the inner sidewalls of vthe lugs 33 andthe surfaces of the lugs 39 (3o-operating therewith, as above stated, forni cooperating stop surfaces by which the slugs in the operation of assembling thein, are caused to become positioned relative to each other for effecting the dedesired alignment of the .printing-faces thereof. In this connection it `may be stated that under certain conditions satisfactory results may be produced by providing single stop portions on opposing surfaces of the slugs as distinguished from the plural stopportions shown.

Referring to the construction of printing slugs shown in Figs. 12, 13 and 14, these slugs, repre-sented at 58, are of the saine construction as those of the preceding figures, except that the vertical rule-faceportion of each thereof instead of being provided on two lugs extending beyondV oppo-l site faces of the slug, as in the case of the slug of the preceding figures, is provided on one lug only, forming a. stop portion and represented at 59, this lug extending from the face of the slug opposite that carrying the socket-forming lugs and represented at 69, it being understood that the inold cavity of the matrix, whether of either of the constructions shown, or of other construction, for producing this intersecting rule-line portion of the slug, would be provided of the desired shape for forming this part of the slug. The slugs of these ligures are shown `grouped with ller-slugs 61., alternating therewith, to produce the printing forni.

The slugs of Figs. 15 and 22, inclusive, are

illustrative of an arrangement of the positioning lugs comprising the lugs bearing rule-face portions, wherein those lugs of the slugs with which 'the rule-face lugs cooperate, are widely spaced apart, as for example substantially at the ends of the slug,

and a plurality of the rule-face lugs ai'e pro-4 vided.

The printing slugs of Figs. l5, 16, 17 and 18 and represented at 62 are of the saine general form as the slugs 58, except that two vertical rule-face lugs, represented at 63 and 64 and having stop portions, are provided adjacent the ends of the slug, instead of a single one, and the two lugs 65 and 66, forming stop portions and corresponding with the lugs 59 of Fig. 12, are widely spaced apart to extend adjacent the ends of the slug and cooperate, respectively, with the outer side-surfaces of the lugs 63 which latter extend beyond the adjacent face of the slug. The intersecting rule-line portions of the ilo slug may be made from any suitable `constructionof matrix. The matrix construction shown in Figs. 6,7, 8 and 9, however, is particularly desirable for use in this connection,inasmueh as each of the intersecting rule-line matrices may be made up by using one of the sections 4l and one of the similar sections 43 or 44. Theslugs of these figures are likewise shown grouped With filler-slugs 67 alternating therewith to produce the printingform.

The printing slugs of Figures 19 and 2l, inclusive, and represented at 68 are of the saine construction as those of Figs. 15 to 18, inclusive, except that the vertical rule-face portions of theslugs are each formed on two lugs 69 and 70 forming stop portions and extending beyond opposite faces of the slug, as in the case of the construction shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5, instead of being provided on one lug only, and the lugs, represented at Zl'and 72 and corresponding with the lugs 65 and 66, While Widely spaced apart, are located at the inner side-Walls of the rule-face lugs 69, instead of at the outer side-walls thereof, the matrix-sections being suitably arranged in the matrix composing stick to produce the lugs as stated. The slugs of these figures` are also shown grouped together with filler-slugs 73 interposed therebetween.

Thile I have illustrated and described my invention as embodied in, and applied to the production of, certain forms of printingfaceequipped bodies, I do not Wish to be understood as intending to limit it thereto, nor to the particular printingfaces shown, as theinvention as to certain phases thereof, may be embodied in, and employed in the product-ion of, various other forms of printing-face-equipped bodies and various other printing-faces Where it is desired that alignment of `printing-faces on adjacent printing-face-equipped bodies be effected.`

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patentis:

l. A printing-face-equipped body provided at one surface thereof with a stop portion presenting a printing face and at its opposite surface With a stop portion, said stop portions extending beyond said surfaces, for the purpose set forth.

i 2. A printingfaee-equipped body provided at one surface thereof with a stopportion extending crossWise of said body and presenting a printing face, and at its opposite surface with a stop portion, said stop portions extending beyond said surfaces, for the purpose set forth.

3. A printing-faee-equipped body provided at one surface thereof with a stopportion extending beyond said surface and presenting a printing face, and at its opposite surface With a stop portion, for the purpose set forth. f

4. A printingfaee-equipped body provided at one surface thereof with a stopportion extending beyond said surface and presenting a printing face, and at its opposite surface with a stop portion extending beyond the adjacent surface of said body.

5. A printing-face-equipped body provided at one surface thereof with a stopportion extending crosswise 0f said body and beyond said surface, and at its opposite surface with a stop portion, for the purpose set forth.

6. A printing-faceequipped body pro vided at each of opposite surfaces thereof with a plurality of stop-portions extending beyond said surfaces, the stop-portions at one surface of said body presenting a printing face, for the purposeset forth.

-7. A printing-faee-equipped body provided at opposite surfaces thereof with lug and socket stop-forming portions, respectively, said lug portion presenting a printing face, for the purpose set forth.

6. A plurality of printing-face-eqnipped bodies adapted to be assembled to produce alignment of printing faces thereon and provided with stoj'i-portions in (zo-operative relation on opposing surfaces thereof, one of said portions presenting a printing face, for the purpose set forth.

9. A plurality of printing-facccquipped bodies adapted to be placed flatwise together to produce alignment of printing faces thereon andfprovided With stop portions in co-operative relation on opposing surfaces thereof.` one of said portions presenting a printing face. for the purpose set forth.

l0. A plurality of printing-face-equipped bodies adapted to be assembled to produce alignment of printing-faces thereon and provided with stop-portions in cooperative re lation on opposing surfaces thereof, each of said bodies being provided with a plurality of said stop-portions, on each surface. the stop portions on one surface of said body presenting a printing face, for the purpose set forth.

1l.. A plurality of printing-facte-equipped bodies adapted to be assembled to produce alignment of printing-faces thereon and provided with lug and socket portions in cooperative relation on opposing surfaces thereof, said lugs presenting printing faces, for the purpose set forth.

l2. A pluralty of printing-face-eqnipped slugs grouped in flat-wisc opposed relation, with filler slugs interposed thereliietwecn, each of said first-referred-to slugs being provided ivith stop-portions at opposite surfaces thereof. with the stoj'i-portions on each slug extending in mutually overlapped relation with the stop-portions on adjacent slugs, certain of said stop-portions being in the form of printing-faee-equipped lugs overlapping adjacent ones of said filler-slugs.

13. A plurality of printing-face-equipped slugs grouped in flativise opposed relation, with filler slugs interposed therebetween, each of said first-referred-to slugs being provided at each of opposite surfaces thereof with stop-portions, with the stop-portions on eaoh slug extending in mutually overlapped relation with the stop portions on adjacent slugs, Certain of said stop-portions being in the forin of printing-faee-equipped lugs overlapping the adjacent ones of said filler slugs.

14. A printing-faceequipped body provided at one surface thereof with a stopportion presenting a printing-face and at its opposite surface with a stop portion, for the purpose set forth.

15. A printing-face-equipped body provided at each of opposite surfaces With stop* portions the stop-portions at one surface of said body presenting a printing face.

16. A printing-face-equipped body provided at one surface thereof With a stopportion presenting a printing-face and at its opposite surface with a stop-portion, said stop portions presenting stop-surfaces eX- t-ending in planes orossvvise of the plane of the printing-faoe 17. A plurality of printing-face-equipped bodies of substantially the saine height adapted to be assembled to produce a printing forni, and means comprising oooperating portions of said bodies, one of said portions presenting a printing face, for producing pre-determined positioning of said bodies relative to each other in the plane of their printing surfaces.

18. A plurality of printing-face-equipped bodies grouped together to produce a printing forni, said bodies being provided With cooperating stop portions certain of which present a printing face, said stop portions being so disposed as to cause printing faces on said bodies to aline Within the plane 0f the printing surface.

PHILIP P. MERRILL. 

